Mars Crustal Magnetic Field Remnants
The radial magnetic field measured is color coded on a global
perspective view that shows measurements derived from spacecraft
tracks below 200 km overlain on a monochrome shaded relief map of
the topography.
This image shows especially strong Martian magnetic fields in the
southern highlands near the Terra Cimmeria and Terra Sirenum
regions, centered around 180 degrees longitude from the equator to
the pole. It is where magnetic stripes possibly resulting from crustal
movement are most prominent. The bands are oriented approximately
east - west and are about 100 miles wide and 600 miles long, although
the longest band stretches more than 1200 miles.
The false blue and red colors represent invisible magnetic fields in
the Martian crust that point in opposite directions. The magnetic fields
appear to be organized in bands, with adjacent bands pointing in
opposite directions, giving these stripes a striking similarity to
patterns seen in the Earth's crust at the mid-oceanic ridges.
These data were compiled by the MGS Magnetometer Team led
by Mario Acuna at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD.
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